12.29.08: Twilight in perspective, Transformers II photos, and more

TWILIGHT SHINES NO MORE BRIGHT THAN...

In a lovely article about movie hype vs. reality, The NY Times points out that, despite all the hubbub, Twilight has only sold about the same number of tickets as Patch Adams, George of The Jungle, and John Travolta angel movie Michael each did. In fact, as a percentage of the U.S. population, Twilight viewers number fewer than those for the three latter films, and the vamp-lite flick doesn't even break the all-time adjusted top 100 films. (The Dark Knight is #26 on the list.)

R.I.P. HAROLD PINTER

Legendary playwright Harold Pinter passed away on December 24th.  Pinter's contributions to the theater world are celebrated in this four page NY Times obituary, which calls him "the most influential and imitated dramatist of his generation." (Stephen Sondheim geeks like myself will recall that Pinter is referenced in the showstopping Company song, "The Ladies Who Lunch".) Pinter also wrote many screenplays, including The French Lieutenant's Woman and the recent version of Sleuth, and acted in several films to boot. (Variety)

ODDS AND ENDS

• Transformers II photos both questionable and legitimate have arrived online, and are as dull as toast.  UPDATE:  more exciting images are now available here.

• AICN has a review of Sylvester Stallone's script for The Expendables, which you may recall is the Stallone/Jet Li/Jason Statham/Dolph Lundgren action mashup extravaganza centered on a group of mercenaries. Short version: they sort of like it.

• Which 2008 movie has earned the title "The Highest Grossing Release Of All Time At The U.K. Box Office"?  Click here for the surprising answer...

• In anticipation of the new Star Trek film, Devin over at CHUD is going to review every episode of the original series as well as the 7 feature films with the original crew members. Set phasers to "geek out" here.

• Don't shoot people, ok?  No matter how frakkin' annoying they are.

--JB

Comments

[N.I.L.E.]

this article stinks! i can't believe the stuff this thing says!

(oh and my name is No, I Like Edward)